Longan Orchid - Characteristics, planting and care from A to Z

Dendrobium orchid (Dendrobium orchid) is a wild orchid species of the genus Dendrobium. Its flowers are bright orange, its lips are grass brown with fringed edges, and it is easy to grow and care for.

Longan orchid or also known as Longan orchid, curly orchid (scientific name is Dendrobium fimbriatum) is one of the most beautiful and luxurious wild orchid species in the Dendrobium genus.

With a round flower shape, a reddish-brown throat standing out on a bright orange background, good adaptability, easy to grow and care for, longan orchid is increasingly known and loved by many orchid players.

In today's article, let's learn more about the longan orchid to help you easily grow this impressive orchid species.

Introduction to Longan orchid

Dendrobium longan has a bright orange-yellow color.

Longan orchid is also known by other names such as Dendrobium fimbriatum, red-eyed orchid, curly orchid, scientific name is Dendrobium fimbriatum, genus Dendrobium. This is a native orchid species of Asia, commonly distributed in the following countries:

• India, Nepal, Bhutan
• Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, China
• Vietnam: Appears a lot in the North and North Central regions such as Sapa, Vinh, they are also present in Lam Dong and Ca Mau.

In nature, Longan orchid is an epiphytic species living on large tree trunks in dense, humid forests, at an altitude of 500 - 1500m above sea level. It is a species that prefers diffused light and a climate with a clear difference between the dry and rainy seasons.

The name "Longan" is a Vietnamese folk name, originating from the fact that the flower has bright yellow, round petals, and the flower eyes are dark reddish brown like longan seeds.

How to identify Longan orchid

Close-up of the flower, leaves and stem of the Longan orchid.

Let's learn about the detailed characteristics of the appearance of longan orchids to see if they have anything outstanding to help you easily recognize this orchid among hundreds of other wild orchids.

Trunk :

• Pseudobulbs, erect, can reach 2m in length if cared for in optimal conditions.
• Round body, slightly flat, clearly divided into segments, gradually smaller towards the tip
• The stem is yellow-brown or yellow-green when young, and turns dark yellow when old.
• The young plants of the longan orchid have many black and brown dots that look very special.

Leaves :

• Leaves are simple, alternate, and pointed.
• Leaves are 6 - 12 cm long and 1 - 2 cm wide.
• The leaves are glossy green, soft, and often fall before the plant flowers.

Roots :

• Aerial roots, growing at the base or nodes of the stem
• The roots are ivory white in color and have a protective layer of velamen on the outside.

Flower :

• Grow in clusters at nodes near the top
• Each drooping flower cluster is 10 - 20 cm long, with 5 - 15 flowers.
• Each flower is about 4 - 6 cm in diameter.
• The petals are thin, bright orange-yellow, and arranged in a round shape.
• The flower lip is wide, round, the flower throat is dark yellow with a reddish brown or purple circle, the lip edge has many soft tassels - this is an important identifying feature of Longan orchid.
• Flowers have a light, pleasant fragrance and usually bloom from March to May.

Distinguishing between Longan orchid and Golden orchid

The difference in flowers between the Dendrobium and Longan orchids.

Currently, many new orchid growers cannot distinguish between the Dendrobium longan orchid and the Dendrobium golden orchid because these two orchid species belong to the Dendrobium genus and both have a bright orange-yellow color. Right below, we will help you distinguish between these two orchid species.

Techniques for planting and caring for Longan orchids

Dendrobium longan orchid seedlings peeled from the forest with intact roots.

If you want to try your hand at Longan orchids but don’t know where to start, please refer to the detailed techniques for growing and caring for this orchid species shared here. We guarantee that even if you are a “newbie”, you can still easily own the most brilliant Longan flower pots.

Preparing to plant Dendrobium longan

Before starting to grow longan orchids, you need to prepare seedlings, growing medium and do preliminary treatment to help the plants be healthy, less diseased and take root soon.

Criteria for selecting Longan orchid varieties :

• Choose a tree with a large, round trunk, not crushed, not waterlogged, and with 2-3 dormant buds.
• Choose a tree that is not too old or too young.
• If you buy wild orchids, you should choose plants with many strong roots.
• If you want easy care and few diseases, you should choose purebred breeds.

Seed treatment before planting :

• If you choose to separate the variety, before separating the plant, you need to water the orchid pot thoroughly. After about 20 - 30 minutes, peel off each root and remove damaged or diseased roots.
• Soak the plant in a diluted solution of Physan 20 or Benkona for about 15 minutes to disinfect.
• You can soak the tree roots in B1 or Atonik solution to stimulate root growth if desired.
• Then take out the seedlings, leave them in a cool, dry place for 1-2 days before grafting or planting.

Prepare suitable substrate :

• You can choose to graft directly onto longan wood, jellyfish wood, cork board,...
• In addition, it can be grown in terracotta pots, plastic pots with good drainage holes and substrates such as pine bark, coconut fiber, charcoal, etc.
• The entire substrate needs to be soaked in diluted lime water for 1-2 days, then dried to remove dirt, impurities and disinfect.

Longan orchid planting and grafting techniques

Please follow the orchid planting and grafting techniques shared below to help the longan orchid pot take root quickly and grow best.

Grafting Longan orchid onto wood :

• Determine the location where the orchid will be grafted.
• Use zip ties, rubber bands, or even U-pins to secure the orchid base to the substrate, being careful not to tighten too much to avoid crushing the plant.
• Place the plant at a slight angle to avoid water stagnation.
• Hang orchids in a cool place with 70% diffused light

Planting Longan orchid in pots :

• Line the bottom of the pot with a layer of charcoal or coconut fiber to help drain water better.
• Place the seedling in the middle of the pot, leaving the base floating on the substrate.
• Use a stick to fix the orchid root.
• Cover with a thin layer of coconut fiber, moss, or moss to retain moisture. Do not cover too tightly to avoid waterlogging the roots.

Care after grafting/planting :

• Do not water the tree immediately after planting or grafting, but wait about 3 days before spraying lightly.
• Continuously for the first half month, only water by misting, do not water strongly at the base.
• After 1 month when the tree takes root, water and fertilize regularly.

Detailed care of Longan orchid

Instructions for caring for Longan orchids.

If you want your Longan orchid to grow well, bloom evenly and beautifully, don't miss the detailed care instructions below.

Determine the growth stage of Longan orchid:

Principles of watering Longan orchids :

• Water only: In the early morning and cool afternoon, do not water on buds or blooming flowers, water has neutral pH.
• Growing season: Water once a day in the dry season, water when the substrate is dry in the rainy season.
• Rest season: Reduce or stop watering, just mist lightly to keep moist

Fertilize appropriately:

• Growth stage : NPK 30-10-10, organic fertilizer every 10 days, can be combined with B1 + Atonik to stimulate roots and sprouts.
• Flowering stage (end of dormant season) : Fertilize with NPK 10-30-10, add Calcium Boron, or micronutrients.
• Flowering stage : NPK 20-20-20, 15-5-30

Temperature, light & humidity :

• Temperature : 20 - 30 degrees C
• Humidity : 50 - 70%
• Light : Scattered, 60 - 70%, likes shade, only likes soft light

Trimming & cleaning :

• After the flowers fade, the wilted flower stems need to be cut off.
• Cut off yellow leaves, rotten roots, and damaged roots to avoid spreading pathogens.
• Once a year, you should check and replace the growing medium if it is rotten or damaged.

Disease prevention :

• Spray Physan 20, Ridomil Gold periodically to kill fungus, prevent mold and leaf spots.
• Spray Confidor, Ortus every 20 days to prevent red spiders and mealybugs.
• Keep the orchid growing area clean, airy, cool, not exposed to harsh sunlight or rain.

Longan orchid price list

Depending on the origin, age of the plant and the development status, the Dendrobium longan orchid is sold at many different prices. For more detailed information, please refer to the following price list.

Note :

• Prioritize buying purebred potted or grafted varieties that have taken root for easier care and faster flowering.
• Only buy deforested products when you have a lot of experience and time.
• The above price list is for reference only because the price will change depending on the season, health and condition of the orchid.

Beautiful Longan orchid pictures

If you want to see more beautiful and sharp images of Dendrobium longan, do not miss the moments we share below. We guarantee that you will be "intoxicated" by the luxurious beauty of this bright orange wild orchid.

Clusters of Dendrobium longan orchids with colorful colors.

Clusters of Dendrobium longan orchids grow from the top of the pseudobulb.

Pots of Dendrobium longan orchids with enormous height.

A wild orchid growing in the jungle.

The longan orchids are in full bloom.

Dendrobium longan is not only a beautiful, brilliant orchid but also very easy to tame and grow, completely suitable for orchid lovers but do not have much experience. Hopefully, with the information that orchid-vn.com shares above, it will help you understand and know how to grow and care for this orchid better to be able to own the most beautiful and impressive orchid pots.

Goodbye and see you soon in other articles of the Blog section to discover more beautiful and interesting orchid species!